SINGAPORE, 08 October 2025 — A new study by PlanRadar, a leading platform for digital documentation, communication, and reporting in construction, facility management, and real estate projects, finds that inconsistent QA/QC standards are eroding margins and driving rework across ASEAN’s construction industry.
The study reveals a clear contradiction at the heart of quality management: more than 70% of companies begin QA/QC processes from day one of construction, yet 77% still report inconsistent documentation across projects, sites, and trades.
This fragmentation drives rework, delays, and disputes. “Different standards across sites and trades” was the most common challenge cited by respondents (56%), while over half (55%) acknowledged they lack enforceable QA/QC processes.
Companies that apply QA/QC systematically are 28% more likely to report margins above 3% and are far more likely to keep rework under 5% of budget (56% vs 37%). In practice, that advantage often comes down to eliminating variability: when approvals, forms, and evidence are captured the same way on every site, leaders gain the defensibility and foresight to prevent small issues from growing into month-long setbacks.
Additionally, the report finds that quality misses cause cascading challenges throughout projects; two in three companies (67%) link QA/QC failures to delays. Among those able to quantify the impact on project schedules, nearly six in ten say quality issues add more than two weeks on average, and almost one in four report delays extend beyond a month.
Commercial exposure doesn’t stop there: firms without standards are over 50% more likely to face warranty risk (54% vs 35%) and are 23% more likely to encounter subcontractor disputes (43% vs 35%).
The findings are based on responses from 811 construction professionals across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, including Singapore and Malaysia.
Across ASEAN, fragmented QA/QC processes carry significant implications for growth and competitiveness. In Singapore, land scarcity and tight timelines make consistency critical to avoid cascading delays.
In Malaysia, rapid urbanisation and mega-projects demand stronger coordination between local and international contractors. Indonesia and the Philippines face their own challenges—from scaling quality processes across dispersed infrastructure projects to ensuring resilience against natural disasters.
Together, these markets highlight a common truth: consistent, digital QA/QC standards are essential to deliver projects that are safe, sustainable, and profitable across the region.
In Singapore, where construction accounts for nearly 4% of GDP and is a critical pillar of infrastructure and housing development, the findings mirror on-the-ground realities. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has set ambitious targets for digital adoption and quality standards, yet our research shows that many contractors still struggle with fragmented QA/QC processes between subcontractors and project sites.
In fact, 100% of respondents in Singapore agreed that inconsistent or delayed QA/QC led directly to project delays or lost time, underscoring how even minor inefficiencies can have major ripple effects in a land-scarce market.
In Malaysia, where infrastructure development and large-scale public projects are key national priorities under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan, the study highlights the urgent need for more consistent QA/QC standards. 85% of Malaysian respondents reported that inconsistent or delayed QA/QC caused avoidable rework, an inefficiency that compounds costs and timelines on major builds.
Avtandil Mekudishvili, APAC Regional Lead at PlanRadar said:
“Across ASEAN, the construction landscape is evolving fast, but quality management hasn’t kept pace. Our research shows that inconsistent QA/QC remains one of the biggest barriers to productivity and profitability in the region.
“With diverse contractors, regulatory frameworks, and project scales, the only way forward is to digitise and standardise QA/QC processes. By doing so, we can bridge gaps between teams, ensure accountability, and build the foundation for safer, more sustainable growth.”
Ibrahim Imam, PlanRadar’s co-founder and CEO, commented:
“QA/QC is a top priority in the construction industry. The challenge is making it consistent. Our research shows that when every site and trade follows a different playbook, quality outcomes become chance, and costs become unpredictable. The path forward is clear: unified, enforceable QA/QC standards that create visibility, reduce disputes, and protect margins.”
PlanRadar’s platform helps close this gap by embedding QA/QC directly into daily workflows. Its digital tools and SiteView 360° reality capture enable teams to document every stage with visual evidence and structured data, reducing rework and keeping projects on schedule.
